ANTI-NUCLEAR protesters brought a large part of Tadley to a standstill when they blocked two of the gates to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).

About 45 representatives of the Block the Builders (BtB) campaign and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) staged a non-violent protest on Monday morning against the go-ahead for a new laser research facility at the Aldermaston site.

Eight protesters were arrested, seven of whom were charged with unlawful obstruction of the highway.

The demonstrations began at about 6.30am with a candlelit vigil and chanting. When AWE employees and building contractors started arriving for work, protesters blockaded the road, using lock-on devices to link themselves together.

The Tadley Gate of the Aldermaston site was blockaded for just over an hour and the Aldermaston Gate was blocked for almost two hours.

The B3051 from Brimpton to the roundabout at Calleva Business Park was gridlocked for most of the rush hour and surrounding roads were affected as drivers attempted to find alternative routes.

Demonstrators were reacting to the decision by West Berkshire Council to grant permission for the development of the new ORION laser facility.

Campaigners claim this marks the start of work on a new generation of nuclear weapons.

Ann Kobayashi, of Wickford, Essex, who is a member of the BtB campaign, said: "I think it is important to make this stand collectively, because of what has been planned for this site - the replacement of the current illegal nuclear weapons system with another one.

"This will cost people in this country a great deal of money and increase the risk from possible terrorist action, which is not going to aid our long-term defence needs in a constructive way."

Jane Gregory, a BtB activist, said: "We successfully kept the gates closed until about 8.15am to stop the construction work on the laser facility, but the Ministry of Defence Police were very heavy-handed today, which is unusual.

"We had 15 people 'locked-in' lying in the road and, when we refused to move, officers lifted us all up together, which could have resulted in several broken arms. It was very dangerous."

About 50 officers from the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and 35 officers from Thames Valley Police attended the protest.

Patrick Nealon, press officer for the MDP, said: "The MoD Police respect the right of people to protest legitimately. We will treat criminal behaviour robustly but any response, as always, will be proportionate."

Superintendent Paul Kirkland, of Thames Valley Police, who oversaw the operation, said: "Our aim today was to facilitate a lawful and peaceful protest in partnership with the MDP and AWE.

"We also deployed officers to minimise disruption to the rest of the community and prevent traffic problems in the area."

The seven protesters who were charged with unlawful obstruction of the highway have been bailed to appear at Newbury magistrates court on Thursday, February 9.

A 26-year-old man was also arrested and accepted a caution.

First published: Wednesday, February 1, 2006